Indonesia Open: Singapore shuttler Loh Kean Yew stuns world No.1 Kento Momota in round of 16

SINGAPORE — Singaporean top shuttler Loh Kean Yew on Thursday (25 November) night stunned the world No.1 men’s singles player Kento Momota of Japan in the round of 16 at the Indonesia Open in Bali.

Loh, ranked No.26 in the world, defeated the Japanese world champion in three sets with a score of 21-7, 17-21, 21-19. His latest victory came a day after he prevailed against Kashyap Parupalli of India in the round of 32, winning 21-11, 21-14.

He will next face Denmark's world No. 20 Hans-Kristian Vittinghus in the quarter-finals.

The Singaporean's giant-killing performance at Nusa Dua comes just weeks after he won his biggest badminton title of his career at the Hylo Open men's singles final in Germany after he defeated reigning All-England champion Lee Zii Jia of Malaysia.

Loh was leading 19-21, 21-13, 17-12 when his Malaysian opponent conceded the tie after suffering a back injury.

In the Indonesia Open women's singles event, Loh's compatriot Yeo Jia Min fell short against the world No.3 Akane Yamaguchi of Japan, losing 15-21, 21-19, 14-21 in the round of 16.

However, the world No. 18 has done enough this year to become the first Singaporean to qualify for the season-ending Badminton World Federation World Tour Finals, also to be held in Bali from 1 to 5 December.

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